Chapter 201
989 Words
Jim opened the door at Dallas’ knock, and the two men had a few seconds of silent and not-at-all-pleasant communication. Jim nodded slightly, and braced himself for what was almost certainly a shock of some kind.
“Kat.” Dallas was as implacable as ever. “How you doing, darlin’?”
She was on the sofa, her hands twisting over and over again. “OK, I guess. Worried about you being here, a bit.”
Dallas sat down. “Nothing to worry about yet.”
“Yet?” Jim echoed.
“Yeah. Yet.”
Kat swallowed hard. “So what’s going on?”
“I spent the whole day today looking into – him. Your friend Leanne was right… he travels a lot, and I followed his credit card and cell phone activity. In the past four years, he’s been to Wisconsin, Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Arizona. In that order.”
Kat turned deathly pale. “All the places I’ve been…”
“Yeah.” Dallas was calm. “Everywhere except here.”
“f**k me,” Jim said angrily. “I thought you said Kat would be hard to track? That you’d struggle to find her after all this time and all these moves?”
“I would, man. But if I gave it enough time and attention, and had access to the resources that he does as a cop and an ex-military operative? I’d manage it.”
“Just like he is,” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
“So… he’s getting closer, he’s almost here. I have to go.” She stood up, totally panicked. “It was a mistake to stop in Denver for so long. I have to move again, right now.”
“Whoa, Kat. Hold up, alright?” Dallas patted the sofa next to him. “I have a plan. Can you sit and listen?”
“OK.” She sank down again, her legs weak under her.
“I’m going to send two of my people out there, to Foxburg Falls. They’re going to find this guy, keep an eye on him. They’ll report in to me every day, and if he goes anywhere, they’ll follow him.”
Kat stared at Dallas, stunned. “I didn’t think you were serious about that when you said it yesterday.”
“About what?” he asked.
“About sending some of your people out to Oregon.”
“Why wouldn’t I be serious about it?”
“Well.” She shifted. “The expense.”
“What?”
“What you’re proposing would cost you a fortune in staff and travel and hotels and overtime.” Kat flushed. “I mean – I can’t even begin to afford a security firm like yours for one night at a bar, Dallas, let alone a full-time protective team undercover and investigating in another state. I don’t want you to bankroll this. It’s too much.”
“OK. You done?” Dallas asked her.
She blinked. “Uh. Yes.”
“Good. So, as I was saying, I’m sending two of my people to Foxburg Falls.” He paused. “Any objections?”
Tears slid down Kat’s cheeks, and she shook her head. Dallas’ face softened.
“Hey,” he said. “No crying, Kat. I’m doing this because I want to and because I can. I make more than enough money from my paying clients, believe me. Don’t worry about bankrupting me with one pro bono op. OK?”
“OK,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
Jim took her hand, gave it a reassuring squeeze. She took a deep breath, then managed a smile at the two men.
“Alright, Dallas.” Kat cleared her throat. “Tell me what else you’re thinking.”
“No beating around the bush, hon. I need to know Leanne and Bobby’s real names.”
Dallas and Jim expected her to protest, but to their complete and utter shock, she nodded.
“Yeah, I figured. I already called her and told her what’s going on.”
“What?” Jim stared at her. “When did you call her?”
“Yesterday, when I was at work.”
“And you didn’t say anything to me?”
Kat shrugged. “What was there to say? I mean, all I told her was that more people know what happened. I figured I’d wait to see what Dallas’ investigation turned up before I made any other moves.”
“And what did she say?” Jim said, watching her closely.
“She was good and freaked out, and she’ll be ever more so when I tell her that you’re sending people over to talk to her.”
“They won’t approach her at work, Kat,” Dallas said. “Not ever. They can meet her and Bobby somewhere safe, OK?”
She bit her lip. “You promise me they’ll be careful?”
“I swear.”
“OK,” she said. “I’ll tell her about them coming, and that she can talk to them openly.”
“Good.” Dallas was all business again. “Their names?”
Kat sighed. “Ellen Price and Nate Torrance.”
“Thank you, Kat,” Dallas said. “I promise we’ll keep them safe, too, OK? They did something amazing for you, at huge personal risk to themselves, and there’s no way we’re going to put them in harm’s way. Not for anything.”
Kat nodded.
Dallas stood up. “So, that’s it, at least for now. I’ll tell you everything I hear, and if I think for one second that he’s making any kind of move at all, I’ll get you to a safe house that I keep for clients. OK?”
“OK. Thanks, Dallas.”
“You’re welcome.” He hugged her, holding her tightly for a few seconds. “You doing alright?”
- Writer
